BLITZ: Wall finds opening to upset Muleshoe, 39-28

Patrick Dove/Standard-TimesWall High School's Trent Schwartz brings down Muleshoe's Juan Sanchez for a loss during Friday's regional playoff game in Seminole.shot/archived 11.26.10

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times Wall High School's Dustin Droll moves toward the end zone during Friday's regional playoff game against Muleshoe in Seminole. shot/archived 11.26.10

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times Wall High School's Brent Rasberry moves the ball up the field during the first quarter of play during Friday's regional playoff game against Muleshoe in Seminole. shot/archived 11.26.10

Patrick Dove/Standard-TimesWall High School's Justin Walling pulls down a pass for a first daown that would set up a Hawk touchdown in Friday's regional playoff game against Muleshoe in Seminole.shot/archived 11.26.10

Wall High School’s Brent Rasberry moves the ball up the field during the first quarter of the Hawks’ regional playoff win.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times

Wall’s Justin Walling pulls down a pass for a first down that helped set up a Hawk touchdown in Friday’s regional playoff game against Muleshoe in Seminole.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times

Wall’s Brett Rasberry moves the ball through the Muleshoe defense Friday during the Hawks’ regional playoff win in Seminole. The Hawks’ quarterback rushed for a game-high 126 yards.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times

SEMINOLE — The Wall High School football team was a 12-point underdog entering their Class 2A Division I regional semifinal game against Muleshoe Friday night at Seminole's Wig Wam Stadium.

But a stellar defensive game plan and persistent rushing attack led them to a 39-28 win and a berth in the state quarterfinals.

"This feels great," Wall's Brett Rasberry said. "We knew what we were capable of coming into the game and we executed."

The Hawks' relentless rushing attack was able to engineer long, clock-consuming drives that limited Muleshoe's time of possession.

"We wanted to keep their offense off the field," Wall head coach Houston Guy said. "(Muleshoe) has a very explosive offense and I thought defensively we did a great job."

University of Oklahoma commit Cooper Washington directed the Mulshoe offense to the game's first score, finding his way to the end zone from 36 yards out on the Mules opening drive.

After that, Wall's "bend but don't break" defense held Muleshoe scoreless for the rest of the half.

"That's what we wanted to do," Wall's Blaine Mikulik said. "They may have been bigger than us, but we're fast and we hit hard."

Mikulik finished with a game-high 11 tackles, three of those for a loss.

Austin Matschek added another eight tackles for the Hawks.

Two key turnovers added to Wall's outstanding defensive performance.

Trent Schwarts recovered a Hawk-forced fumble by Washington deep in their territory to end one threat, Brett Rasberry picked off one of his passes, then outraced the Division I prospect 47 yards for a touchdown.

On the offensive side of the ball, Brett added two more scores and an acrobatic headfirst dive over the pylon for a two-point conversion.

The dive, coming on a bad snap after the Hawks answered Muleshoe's first score gave the Hawks a lead they would never relinquish.